10 Most Breathtaking Views in the World

The view from the summit of Mount Everest is breathtaking in more ways than one. iStockphoto/Thinkstock

This view takes your breath away in more than one way. Not only will you feel like you're at the top of the world at the summit of Nepal's Mount Everest, but the incredible altitude will literally leave you breathless. Everest was formed about 60 million years ago and is the tallest peak (from sea level) on the planet at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) [source: Mounteverest.net]. Because of the extreme weather conditions at the summit, climbers rarely attempt to complete the ascent outside of the months of May and June, when the jet stream is pushed north.

If you do choose to make the ascent, you may come across some dead bodies along the way. There are about 120 bodies of those that the mountain has claimed on your path to the top -- they've been impossible to remove. But don't let that dissuade you. If you're an experienced mountaineer, you can be one of the 150 people that attempt to reach the summit each year. Once you're at the top, have your camera ready, because you'll only be there for a few minutes before you start your descent.